Concrete tunnel structure



F l. WESI, M. JADKSDN AND H. I LEADER.

CONCRETE TUNNEL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 29.1921).

Patented 7 May 17, 1921.

place by to provide FEEDEBICK 3'. "WEST, MARK JACKSON, ANDHAROLD T. LEADER, 0F DETRQIT, MICE; EGAN, ASSIGNORS 0F ONE-FOURTH T0 ALDRKCH BAXTER, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GQNCRETE TUNNEL STRUCTURE.

Lii'ffd lfid.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May in, rear.

Application filed Eecembcr 29, 1920. Serial No. 433,890.

To ail whom. it nut-y concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK J. VTEST, Mann JACKSON, and Harrow T. LEADER, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Tunnel Structures, or which the following is a description, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing and 'to the figures of reference marked thereon:

lhe invention relates to new and useful improvements in concrete tunnels or other like tubular structures, and more particu larly to a concrete tunnel made up of preformed blocks. 4

An object of the invention is to provide a tunnel structure of the above character wherein the body portion of the tunnel is formed of a series of annular sections interlocked with each other and wherein each section consists of a plurality of curved blocks having tongue and groove connec tions at their ends and wherein the key block and the blocks associated therewith in said annular sections are so formed that the key block may be put in place by an outward movement from the inner face of the annular section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tunnel construction of the above character wherein the'key blocks in edge cent sections are staggered relative to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tunnel construction of the above character wherein the key block is held in forming opposed grooves in the ends of the key block and in the ends of the sections associated therewith, and inserting in the openings formed by said opposed grooves, keys.

A further object of the invention is to. provide a structure of the above character wherein the holding keys for the key block are formed from scrap pipe filled with con crete.

A still further object of the invention is a tunnel construction consisting of annular sections formed in turn of blocks having interlocking tongues and grooves wherein certain of said blocks are provided with openin s during the molding of the blocks, in w ich openings are placed pi e sections flush with the outer taco of t e blocks, and threaded at their inner ends whereby concrete may be caused to'iiow out through said pipes and fill the space occu pied by the shield in the forming of the tunnel.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention-- l igure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a tunnel embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective and from the inside of one of the blocks;

- Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the blocks;

Fig. 4' is a side view of the kev block, parts being broken away to show the pipe construction through which concrete is forced to the outer surface of the tunnel;

Fig.5 is a similar view of the right-hand block associated with the key block:

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lettghand block associated with the key block;

Fig. 7 is a detail inside elevation showing one ofthe key pins, and

8 is a sectional view on line a--a of Fig. 3, but showing a modified shaping of a the tongue and groove.

The invention is directed broadly to a which are preformed before being" placed toform the annular sections. Adjacent blocks are formed at their ends and sides with interlocking tongues and grooves which aid materially in holding the blocks in place during the construction of the annular sections, and also in producing a non-leakable joint when properly mortared between adj acent blocks. These tongues and grooves in the blocks form: an interengag'ing connection between the annular sectionsand also between the blocksin each section. In each annular section there are two blocks having spaced arallel ends, between which ends -is place a key block. The ends of the key block and the ends of the blocks adjacent I thereto, are formed with opposed grooves. preferably circularin cross sect on, and 1n the circular opening formed by these opposed grooves is placed locking keys preferably made from waste'sections of plpe filled with concrete. Certain of the blocks in each annular section as they are formed are provided with ipe sections fiushwith the inner and outer aces of the blocks, andat the inner face these pipe sections are threaded and adapted to receive a threaded pipe sec which acts as an outer ring for protecting against settling of the very essential, particular y where tunnels or sewers are built under streets and build- 1 It eferrin'g more particularly to thejdraw ings, ourimproved structure consists" of a series of annular sections 1. In Fi 1, we have shown a series of these annu ar sec:

tions placed side by side and thus forming the body portion of the tunnel. Each annular-sectlon consists of a series of blocks. These blocks in the main are similar in (301F1- struction and.may' be of any'suitable size.

Said blocks areindicated in the drawings at 2. Each block, on one of its side faces has a groove 3, which is preferably semi-circular in cross section. On the opposite face said block is provided with a tongue 3 which is similar in cross section. At one end said block is provided with a groove 4 whichis preferably semi-circular incross section and the other end of the same block is provided with a tongue or rib 5 which is preferably semi-circular in cross section. It will readily be seen that when the blocks are made up into the annular section,- that each section will have on one face a projecting annular tongue and in the other face an. annular groove'which-is adapted to receive a projecting ton e on the next adjacent annular section. hese' tongues and grooves may, if desired, be rectangular in cross section as shown in Fig. 8. i

As above noted, the sections are all similar except the key section and the two blocks on each side thereof associated with the key section. The key section is indicated at 6 in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This keysection. has the usual tongue at the rear side thereof and groove at the forward side thereof. The two ends 7 and 8 are parallel and areboth provided with semi-circular. grooves 9, 9.

hese blocks are preferably formed of concrete and when the block ismolded it is provided with a pipe 10, which is flush with the outer and inner faces of the block' The inner face of the pipe is enlarged and tapped as indicated at 11, so that the threaded conound, which is j lar section.

ton

nection may be made with a pipe through 'which concrete or grout may be forced to the outer face of the tunnel structure. The

block at the ri'ghtof the key section is indi 'cated at 12 in Fig. 5. This block, is the the key, block, that is, said face 13 is parallel i A with the face 8. The block at the left of the key block is indicated at 14 in Fig. Goff the drawings. Said block is also similar 1n construction to the block 12, except that the straight face 15 is at the other 'end thereof and this face is parallel with the face 7 of the block 6. In other Words, the

' faces 13 and 15 when the blocks are in place in the annular sections are parallel, sosthat the key block may be inserted by an outward movement from the inner face of the annu- The end face 15 of the block 14 is provided with a semi-circular groove 18 which is opposed to the groove 9, and toether with the groove 9 in the key block orm a circular opening. There is a similar groove 19 in the end face 13 of block 12," andthis groove 19, together with the groove 9 in the key block form a circular opening. In F ig.v 7 there is shown a preferred form of key. Said key consists of a pipe 20 which is filled with concrete and this pipe section 20 is preferably cut from scrap pipe, and of a len th the blocl These keys are inserted inthe circular openings between the key block and the adjacent blocks of the annular section,

and fill said openings and serve as a locking means to lock the blocks in place. In other words, these keys perform the function of the ton'gue and groove at the other ends of the blocks, and by forming the end sections with parallel faces, the annular section may to correspond to the width of be built within the shield,,the key block inserted from a point within the opening, and locked in place, after which the shield may be forced forward in the usual way. When the shield is forced forward, blow' pipes may be attached to the pipe section 10 in the key block, and to similar pipe sections 10, 10 in the blocks 12 and. 14:, respectively, and thus concrete forced to the outer wall of the tunnel, completely filling the space occupied by the shie d asit is moved forward and thus preventing the settling of. the ground in which the tunnel is being built.

While we have shown and described the 1e and roove as semi-circular in cross sect1on,.it Wlll be understood that they may be rectan far or in any desired shape. In the build ngup of the annular sections, the

key block 6 of one section is preferably stag- 1 gered relative to the key block of the next adjacent section, said key blocks being indicated at 6 and 6 in Fig. 1. Likewise the key blockofthe next Wtion which is key block 6'. It will also be noted that all the block sections are staggered relative toeach other or arranged so as to break joints. A portion of the shield is indicated at S in Fig. 1.

The continuous tongue and groove-jointbetween annular sections forms a very durable side lo'ck and: prevents seepage, and allows the blocks to be made of any size desired. These ton es and grooves between the sections a so prevent radial displacement of one section relative to the other and hold the sections in alinement. The tongues and grooves at the ends of the blocks serve to lock the blocks firmly in place and prevent any radial displacement thereovf-by the earth crushing in on the annular sections as often occurs. These interlocking tongues and grooves also form a looking between the blocks while erecting the annular sections. In layin a horizontal tunnel, the blocks are starte at the bottom and built up on both sides, and when the top is reached, a key block may be pushed straight up into place and locked in place by the keys filled with concretg It is obviousthatminorchanges in the details of construction may be rhii de without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is p 1. A tunnel or like structure comprising annular sections, each annular section consisting of a series of curved blocks, means integral with said blocks for holding said 'blocks against radial displacement in the annular sections and said annular sections in alinement, two of said blocks having spaced parallel ends adapted to receive therebetween a key block, and means integral vwith said key block for securing said key block against radial displacement when inserted in place.

2. A tunnel'or like tubular structure comprisin annularsections consisting of curve blocks having interengaging tongues and grooves at the ends thereof, two of said blocks having their adjacent endsspaced and parallel with each' other and adapted to receive therebetween a key block, and means for holding the key block in place, said blocks and key blocks of each annular section having interfitting lateral tongues and grooves to hold said blocks from-radial displacement and said sections in alinement. 7

3. A tunnel or/like tubular-structure com I In testimony whereof;

' prising annular sections consisting of curved blocks having inter-engaging tongues and grooves at the ends thereof. two of said blocks having their adjacent ends spaced and parallel with each other and adapted to receive therebetween a key block, said key block at its ends and the ends of the ad- 'acent blocks having opposed grooves, and eys adapted to be placed in said opposed grooves for securing the key block in place.

4. A tunnel or like tubular structure comprising annular sections consisting of curved locks havinginteren aging tongues and grooves at the ends thereof, two of/said blocks having their adjacent ends spaced and parallel with each other and adapted to receive therebetween a key block, said kev block at its ends and the ends of the adjacent blocks having opposed grooves, and

keys adapted to be placed in said opposed grooves for securing the key block in place, said keys consisting of scrap pipe cut to suitable length and filled with concrete.

5. A tunnel or like tubular structure comrising annular sections consisting of curved Blocks having int/erenga ing tongues and rooves at the ends thereo two ofsaid blocks having their'adjacent ends spaced and'pa-rallel witheach other and adapted to receive therebetween a key block, and means for holding the key block having parallel ends in place, certain of said blocks in each annular section having pipes extending from front to rear and flush with the inner and outer faces thereof, through which grout may be forced to the outer surface of the tunnel'for fillin the space occupied by the shield when move a forward. a v

6. A tunnel or like structure comprising annular sections, means for holding said annular sections -in alinement, each annular section consisting of a series of curved blocks, means for holding saidblocks against radial displacement in the annular sections,-

two of said blocks having spaced parallel ends adapted to receive therebetween a key block havingi arallel ends, and means for securing of said blocks having pipes extending from front to rear thereof and fiush with the said ey block against radial dis-'. placement when inserted in place, certain outer surfaces through which grout may be forced to the outer surface 0 the annular sections. 4

we afiix our signatures. A

resonator: J. WEST. MARK aaonson. w en) r: LEADER. 

